Liberal senator hopes to ban marine mammal captivity

Liberal Senator Wilfred Moore introduced legislation Thursday afternoon that would phase out the controversial practice of keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity — which is happening now in two parks in Canada.

Marineland in Niagara Falls has one orca, five dolphins and around 50 beluga whales, while the Vancouver Aquarium holds harbour porpoises, beluga whales, a false killer whale and a Pacific white-sided dolphin.

“I’ve long been of the opinion that these incredible creatures belong in the wild,” said Moore.

Alongside Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies Barbara Cartwright and former Marineland trainer Philip Demers, Moore said Thursday that keeping these mammals in captivity “is an ethical issue.”

Moore said that keeping animals in captivity for entertainment is cruel — and urged those who disagree with him to watch the documentary Blackfish — which focuses on an orca held in captivity at SeaWorld that killed three people.

“In the wild, many whales and dolphins live in large family groups or pods which can grow to over 100 members each,” said Moore.

“The act of removing a family member and placing the whale or dolphin in a pool in a marine park is bad enough, but the process itself is disturbing and can lead to the death of the animal.”

Moore’s bill would prohibit importing, exporting and live captures of whales, dolphins and porpoises and captive breeding in Canada.

Demers, who was a Marineland trainer for twelve years, said he left Marineland three years ago this week because he could no longer be a witness to the consequences of captivity.

“I’m very proud to be apart of this,” said Demers, who added he wholeheartedly supports Moore’s bill.

Moore acknowledged that the bill can’t become law before the House rises for the summer. He said he believes it will pass in the fall.

Moore, who represents Nova Scotia, suggested that anyone who wants to watch whales in their natural habitat should visit his home province — specifically the Bay of Fundy or Lunenburg.

Moore’s bill comes just after the province of Ontario banned the buying, selling or breeding of orcas.